Allocladius caspersi, Ferrington Jr & Saether, 2011

Ferrington Jr, Leonard C. & Saether, Ole A., 2011, A revision of the genera Pseudosmittia Edwards, 1932, Allocladius Kieffer, 1913, and Hydrosmittia gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) 2849, Zootaxa 2849 (1), pp. 1-314 : 51-53

Allocladius caspersi sp. n.

( Fig. 8 )

Type material: Holotype male, CHINA: Sichuan, Mount Emei , 19.v.1986, X. Wang ( ZMBN No. 429) . – Paratype male, TURKEY: Rize Prov., S. Ikizdere, Ovit Pass , 1500 m.a.s.l., 11.vii.1895, W. Schacht, misidentified paratype of P. mediocarinata Caspers et Reiss, 1989: 132 (ZSM) .

Diagnostic characters: The male imago differs from other species of the genus as follows: superior volsella present as a basal swelling; large lobe-like accessory lobe of inferior volsella; and virga consisting only of a rounded sclerotized plate; R 4+5 ending proximal to end of M 3+4; moderately reduced median lobes of antepronotum; apparently no supraalar setae; AR of only about 0.30; and anal point consisting of a broad triangular base with a small pointed, triangular apex.

Etymology: Named in honor of Dr. Norbert Caspers, Bayer AG, Environmental Protection, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany.

Male imago (n = 1–2)

Total length 1.66–1.74 mm. Wing length 1.01–1.17 mm. Total length/wing length 1.49–1.65. Wing length/length of profemur 3.50–3.53. Coloration blackish brown.

Head ( Fig. 8 B ). AR 0.32. Terminal flagellomere 140 µm long. Temporal setae 6, consisting of 2 inner verticals, 2 outer verticals and 2 postorbitals. Clypeus with 6 setae. Tentorium 103–107 µm m long, 18–21 µm wide. Stipes not measurable. Cibarial pump as in Fig. 8 D ). Palpomere lengths (in µm): 16–18, 27–30, 57–71, 59–71, 73–89. Third palpomere ( Fig. 8 C ) with 1 lanceolate sensillum clavatum.

Thorax ( Fig. 8 E ). Median antepronotal lobes somewhat reduced, not meeting anteriorly, lateral setae of antepronotum not observed. Dorsocentrals 7, apparently 4 acrostichals, prealars 3, supraalar seta absent. Scutellum with 4 setae.

Wing ( Fig. 8 A ). VR 1.46–1.50. Anal lobe weak, not projecting. Costal extension 5 µm long. R 4+5 ending proximal to apex of M 3+4; Cu 1 sinuate. Brachiolum and costal extension each with 1 seta, other veins bare.

Legs. Spur of front tibia 20–32 µm long, spurs of middle tibia both broken, of hind tibia 32 µm and 14–16 µm long. Width at apex of front and middle tibiae each 19–23 µm, of hind tibia 25–34 µm. Comb of 10–13 setae, shortest seta 16–18 µm long and longest seta 24–30 µm long. Lengths and proportions of legs as in Table 3.

Hypopygium ( Fig. 8 G ). Anal point 14–16 µm long, consisting of a broad triangular base with a short, triangular, pointed apex free of microtrichia; tergite IX with 6–7 setae; laterosternite IX with 3–5 setae. Phallapodeme 42–48 µm long; transverse sternapodeme 39–53 µm long, with weak to strong oral projections. Virga ( Fig. 8 F ) consisting of 11 µm long sclerotized plate. Gonocoxite 119–130 µm long; superior volsella in form of basal swelling ending at 0.37–0.48 gonocoxite length; inferior volsella ending at 0.54–0.63, accessory lobe large and free, ending at 0.77–0.79 gonocoxite length. Gonostylus 53–55 µm long; with rounded, preapical crista dorsalis; megaseta 7–8 µm long. HR 2.26–2.38, HV 3.12–3.16.

Female, pupa and larva

Not known.

Remarks

Pseudosmittia caspersi is the only species of the genus with more than 2 acrostichals that has slightly reduced median lobes of the antepronotum. The high LR of the middle leg and the structure of the anal point are also unique. The characteristic volsellae, however, are found also in other members of the genus.

Distribution

The species is known from two mountain localities, one in China and the other in Turkey.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Allocladius caspersi sp. n., male. A—wing; B—head; C—third palpomere; D—cibarial pump; E—thorax; F— virga; G—hypopygium, left dorsal aspect, right ventral aspect.